Water Resources: Future Needs for Confining Contaminated Sediment in the Great Lakes Region
RCED-92-89
Published: Jul 17, 1992. Publicly Released: Aug 17, 1992.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed: (1) the status of the confined disposal facilities (CDF) currently being used in the Great Lakes to store contaminated dredged sediments; (2) the long-term need for CDF in the region; and (3) difficulties in locating sites for future CDF.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Corps of Engineers | To provide Congress and local sponsors with information that would be useful in deliberations on the problem of future dredging and disposal of contaminated material in the Great Lakes, once the revised sediment testing guidelines and criteria are issued, the Chief, Army Corps of Engineers, should estimate the needed CDF capacity. The estimates should include: (1) detailed projections of the volume of contaminated material to be generated by future Great Lakes dredging projects; and (2) the capacity, locations, and cost of new or replacement CDF that will be needed in the Great Lakes for the forseeable future. |
Closed – Implemented
The Army stated it had plans to develop the information GAO recommended before the GAO report was issued. It stated the data would be completed by FY 1999.
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Topics
Environmental lawstate relationsHarborsHazardous substancesInland waterwaysInternational agreementsWaste disposalWater pollution controlWater qualityWaterway costs